Black fin Tuna of the Hump w/Greg Poland

Skip Jack to ten pounds along with same sized or smaller Maui-Maui, as we were looking for one of a twenty pounder or better...moved on to the hump . From out under the Man O wars and the weed lines we approached the hump from about 300 feet of water. Nathan Eolvin and his three buddies were eager to catch some more using light fluorocarbon leaders and Ohero light spinning outfits in a quest for Black Fin Tuna. Trolling smoked jigs to bouncing Diamond jigs we were hot in the action with Black fin Tuna of the Hump w/Greg Poland.

Full Story Forth Coming at The Online Fisherman.com

Poland's Spots; a favorite video snapshot!

Poland’s Spots!


Get Some Spots of your own and give him a call; tell'em Gary Anderson sent you and you too can Hooker Up on You Tube!
Website:
http://www.gregpoland.com

Islamorada Daisy Chain, Tarpon on a Roll!

Rick & Mikey Mandrel Angling for Tarpon

The crisp morning westerly breeze slipped across our faces, as we headed out of Islamorada in search of the annual migration of the Silver Kings, Florida Tarpon! Rick & Mikey Mandrel, his son age ten, were eager to get out on a father, son fishing trip and experience the thrill of angling in the Florida Keys together. During April through May, Tarpon can be found migrating both north and south along the banks off the coastline, throughout the Florida Keys. Tarpon fishing really begins to heat up in April, as these migratory fish show in increasing numbers. Crabs and live mullet are the baits of choice. Yesterday, we were using live crabs as our offerings to the Silver Gods. Up on the flats, there too are plenty of tarpon, bonefish and still some permit being taken but our sights were on the Kings. These overgrown, herring-like fish, show up in good numbers, this time of year and as the waters warm up, so too will the Tarpon, both in bites to numbers. READ MORE..........

Tune in on Channel 2 for Tarpon, Florida Keys Style

By Greg Poland

Greg & Harry looking for Kings

At Mile marker 73, is the famed Channel 2 Bridge, as one from atop can claim everything from Yellowtail Snapper to the famed Silver Giants of Florida, the Tarpon. If on the other hand you happen to be in a boat, your chances of big Tarpon increase with your hours out on the water, understanding the tides and knowing the fish, the baits, their habits and the best way to hook'er up! Added to this, you acquire a guide, who has this knowledge and has lived there, most his life, your in for a rocking good time out on the water with a hook set guarantee, if its Greg Poland at the helm! 

 

Harry & Cristy Kirk from Austin, Texas chartered me out in finding him the biggest fish he could muster, in saltwater and one to which he could not only have bragging rights on but be proud to have caught too. Christy was along for the ride, moral encouragement and to take the pictures of our prized catch of the day. We set out for the historical old Flagler bridge or as us locals call it, the channel 2 bridge which offers some great catches from tarpon, snook, snapper, permit, shark and numerous other types of creatures with fins. 

Live-well with Mullet

Our quarry; the Silver King, our Famed Florida Tarpon. The Channel 2 bridge is an older structure and as such offers vertical structure, along with an accumulation of bottom debris over the years, giving the area not only a hiding place for baits but ambush predators, like tarpon on the outflow can take up position behind anything that blocks the current. Armed with all our equipment, compliments of OHERO, we fished free-lined mullet on circle hooks attached to OHERO 50 pound Fluorocarbon attached to OHERO Blue Braid in a true complement to any hook up from sharks to the Silver Giant. Upon the first cast, the mullet changed its direction in swimming up, against the current, behind a block of the bridge and in a beeline to the structure below when that all too familiar sucking sound echoed from under the bridge and this silver streaking locomotive of pure energy exploded next to the boat in the first of many a run to safety. A good twenty to thirty minutes of to and fro as Harry played the game of Fish on! 

Harry Fights the Tarpon As Cristy shoots the shot!

Harry, stated it was the time of his life and he was happy to have shared it with his wife Cristy and Greg, stating it was the biggest saltwater fish he had ever caught and impressive it was too, I exclaimed at about one hundred and twenty-five pounds is nothing to sneeze about for a first timer or pro alike! Later, that evening, celebrations were in order at Ziggie's, where it was martini's and the best steak in town, along with pictures and a fish story to die for. 

Practicing CPR on this 125 pound Silver King

 

 

Greg Poland, "Come fish the Keys with me!"

Indian Key Cero w/Greg Poland

From the Editor:

The winds of March roar like a lion and roar they have across the Keys here at Islamorada this week, in keeping in many a pleasure to charter Captain alike but Greg Poland is always looking for an opportunity to get out on the water an get some business done! This week, he and a friend found a break and scooted out in some hot water action on a cool breezy day. 

On the backside of Indian Key, ocean side of Islamorada, my buddy and I decided to try a little artificial needlefish action in driving up some macks on the bite. The ride was rough as we ran along the leeward side of the key in looking for bird to slick action. Just inside, before the drop-off, along Indian Key there was a floating slick which screamed to be fished. Fishing OHERO rod & reels we pitched out our hard baits and sure enough, it was Mackerel City. The best of the rest was in catching the Cero Mackerel; frantic runs to a couple of leaps and bounds, we were on the fish. The bay side of the Isle was white cap city with a twenty plus knot wind blowing but back here on the lee side it was but a slight chop and the fish, like us, were seeking shelter out of the wind.

Continuing the morning by fishing the trenches we hooked it up with plenty of plate sized Mangrove snapper and more Mackerels than you could shake your rod at! Catching Snapper to Mackerel on light spinning tackle is a real hoot. We were fishing out of my 18 foot flats Chittum's boat with a 70 HP , giving us plenty of edge on getting to and from our angling spots. I have been a Charter boat Captain / Fishing Guide in the Florida Keys sense 1989. I would love to get you out on one of my boats. Let me know when you are ready to go catch the big one. I too am National Business Bureau Approved...Capt. Greg 

http://www.gregpoland.com/

The World Record Kingfish, that wasn’t!

The World Record Kingfish, that wasn’t!

By Captain Mark Schmidt 

 

Back in the mid-1980’s the IGFA opened up the 20lb tippet division for fly fishermen. When a line class opens up there are many more opportunities to set a world record. These fish may not be the biggest or represent the line class that well but they were the first fish to be caught on the open line class.

If your goal as a fisherman is to set a world record this is a golden opportunity to take advantage of an IGFA line class with little or no fish entered. This was our goal as Capt. Greg Poland and I headed out from Key West one calm, clear winter day, those many years ago.

I’ve known Greg for many years and he’s fished with me since he was in high school. We grew up in the same town, Miami Springs, and both had belonged to the Miami Sport fishing Club though not at the same time.

Greg had one specific goal that day and that was to catch a world record fish. There have been many world record fish caught on my boat, some planned and some not, but this trip was planned to fish for a species that could be a quality world record for the newly opened 20lb tippet class. I decided to target kingfish because there were plenty around and we had the right conditions to catch large kingfish on a fly rod.

On the day we were to fish we faced one problem-the night before our trip the NMFS closed the recreational capture of kingfish in federal waters. After conferring with Greg we decided to start in state waters and work our way out trying to find a large kingfish, that was legal to take. Conditions proved tough, so I decide to head west from Key West, to a spot about 30 miles away but well in federal waters. I had reasoned that this spot had other world record opportunities besides kingfish such as jacks and Cobia. Of course, once we anchored up and started fishing, we were covered up with huge kingfish sky rocketing everything we threw in the water. Wasting little time, Greg cast out a large white streamer fly and starting stripping the fly back with an erratic retrieve. The fly didn’t go three feet before a giant kingfish blasted it and went screaming off. After a lengthy fight, Greg worked the fish to the boat and my waiting scale. The kingfish bottomed out the 50lb scale-well over any fish entered on 20lb tippet fly and a great catch on any tackle.

Greg and I now had a decision to make, enter this fish and know we had caught it in closed federal waters or release a potential world record fish that Greg had tried so hard over the years to catch. Greg and I looked at each other and there was no hesitation from either of us, as I released the kingfish to fight another day. We knew what we had accomplished that day and that was good enough. As we headed back to Key West I reflected on how happy I was to have a friend that valued the traditions of fishing and sportsmanship, as much as I did.

Capt. Mark Schmidt is Captain Greg Poland's guide in Key West, Florida,

 

http://gregpoland.com

who will be working along with Capt. Alex Adler, to make up the best guide team in the Florida Keys.

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